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", HE LAST 

>py 1 

RIDE " 
TOGETHER 



BY ROBERT 
BROWMIVG 




n 



THE LAST RIDE 
TOGETHER 



BY ROBERT BROWNING 



T 




DONE INTO A BROCHURE BY THE ROYCROFTERS, 
AT THEIR PRINT SHOP, WHICH IS IN EAST AURORA, 
ERIE COUNTY, NEW YORK STATE m. MCMXVII 






Copyright, 1917 
By The Eoycrofters 






AiN -2 1918 



THE LAST RIDE 



^ 



XSAID — Then, dearest, since 't is so. 
Since now at length my fate I know. 
Since nothing all my love avails. 
Since all my life seemed meant for, fails. 
Since this was written and needs must be- 
y whole heart rises up to bless 
Your name in pride and thankfulness! 
Take back the hope you gave — I claim 
Only a memory of the same, 
— And this beside, if you will not blame. 
Your leave for one more last ride with me. 



THE LAST RIDE 



m 



'Y mistress bent that brow of hers. 
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs 
When pity would be softening through, 
Fixed me with a breathing-while or two 

With life or death in the balance — Right! 
The blood replenished me again : 
My last thought was at least not vain. 
I and my mistress, side by side 
Shall be together, breathe and ride, 
So one day more am I deified. 
Who knows but the world may end tonight? 




THE LAST RIDE 



GUSH! if you saw some western cloud 
All billowy-bosomed, over-bowed 
By many benedictions — sun's 
And moon's and evening star's at once — 

And so, you, looking and loving best. 
Conscious grew, your passion drew 
Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star-shine too 
Down on you, near and yet more near. 
Till flesh must fade for heaven was here! — 
Thus leant she and lingered — joy and fear! 
Thus lay she a moment on my breast. 




THE LAST RIDE 



^I^^HEN we began to ride. My soul 
M^ J Smoothed itself out, a long-cramped scroll 
^^■^ Freshening and fluttering in the wind. 
Past hopes already lay behind. 

What need to strive with a life awry.' 
Had I said that, had I done this. 
So might I gain, so might I miss. 
Might she have loved me? just as well 
She might have hated — who can tell? 
Where had I been now if the worst befell? 

And here we are riding, she and I. 




THE LAST RIDE 



HAIL I alone, in words and deeds? 
Why, all men strive and who succeeds? 
We rode; it seemed my spirit flew. 
Saw other regions, cities new. 

As the world rushed by on either side. 
I thought — All labor, yet no less 
Bear up beneath their unsuccess. 
Look at the end of work, contrast 
The petty done, the undone vast. 
This present of theirs with the hopeful past! 
I hoped she would love me. Here we ride. 




THE LAST RIDE 



^H^HAT hand and brain went ever paired? 
V^ I ^ What heart alike conceived and dared? 
^•^ WTiat act proved all its thought had been? 
What will but felt the fleshly screen? 

We ride and I see her bosom heave. 
There 's many a crown for who can reach. 
Ten lines, a statesman's life in each! 
The flag stuck on a heap of bones, 
A soldier's doing! what atones? 
They scratch his name on the Abbey-stones. 

My riding is better, by their leave. 




THE LAST RIDE 



^-■-^HAT does it all mean, poet? well, 
III Your brain 's beat into rhythm — you tell 
^^^ ^^^lat we felt only; you expressed 
You hold things beautiful the best. 

And pace them in rhyme so, side by side. 
"T is something, nay 't is much — but then. 
Have you yourself what 's best for men? 
Are you — poor, sick, old ere your time — 
Nearer one whit your own sublime 
Than we who never have turned a rhyme? 

Sing, riding 's a joy! For me, I ride. 



THE LAST RIDE 



HND you, great sculptor — so you gave 
A score of years to art, her slave. 
And that 's your Venus — whence we turn 
To yonder girl that fords the bum! 
You acquiesce and shall I repine? 
What, man of music, you, grown gray 
With notes and nothing else to say. 
Is this your sole praise from a friend, 
" Greatly his opera's strains intend, 
But in music we know how fashions end! " 
I gave my youth — but we ride, in fine. 




THE LAST RIDE 



^v«: HO knows what 's fit for us? Had fate 
^ I ^ Proposed bliss here should sublimate 
^^^ My being; had I signed the bond — 
Still one must lead some life beyond, 

— Have a bliss to die with, dim-descried. 
This foot once planted on the goal. 
This glory-garland round my soul, 
Could I descry such? Try and test! 
I sink back shuddering from the quest — 
Earth being so good, would Heaven seem best? 

Now, Heaven and she are beyond this ride. 




THE LAST RIDE 



aND yet — she has not spoke so long! 
What if Heaven be, that, fair and strong 
At life's best, with our eyes upturned 
Whither life's flower is first discerned, 
We, fixed so, ever should so abide? 
What if we still ride on, we two. 
With life forever old yet new. 
Changed not in kind but in degree. 
The instant made eternity — 
And Heaven just prove that I and she 
Ride, ride together, forever ride? 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 386 854 i 




